Assorting machine



Sept. 26, 1944. M. SHUMAN 2,359,155

ASSORTING MACHINE Filed March 9. 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 26, 1944. M. SHUMAN ASSORTING MACHINE Fild Match 9, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIII/III'IIIIII INVENTOR. /Vo5zs 5//0M4/V Patented Sept. 26, 1944 ASSORTING MACHINE Moses Shuman, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Aero Reclamation, a copartnership consisting of Moses Shuman and Bessie Shuman, Les Angeles, Calif.

Application March 9, 1943, SerialNo. 478,515

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for assorting such articles as screws, bolts and rivets, and has particular reference to a device adapted to carry articles of the class referred to past inspection stations in such a manner as to facilitate determination of the length of the shanks of the articles.

To this end, it is the general object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device by means of which the length of such articles may be readily determined. A further object is the provision of means for adjusting the device of my invention to handle articles having shanks of diflerent diameter. For the sake of simplicit, the articles carried by my device are hereinafter generally referred to as the screws.

Drawings are hereto annexed, in which a preferred form of the invention is illustrated, and a detailed description of the device illustrated in the drawings is hereinafter presented.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a substantially corresponding plan vie of the device, but the upper part thereof has for the sake cf clearness been omitted in this view; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of the device, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The structure of my invention, in the form illustrated in the drawings, comprises a stand l, at the ends of which alined pulleys 2, 3 are mounted to rotate. A belt 4 is shown ,hung on these pulleys. and the upper reach of this belt is for convenience held supported at a higher ele- Vation on idlers 5, 6. The pulleys are continuously rotated to drive the belt at slow, urfiform speed by means of a suitable prime mover (not shown).

A rame Il! is mounted on top of the stand for transverse adjustmcnt relative thereto, and it is to this end shown fitted with lugs I1, I2, riding on parallel shafts I3, [4 which are seated to rotate in suitable bearings 15 of the stand. Sprocket wheels I6, I1 are secured to the ends of these shafts, and a chain l8 is hung on these sprockets. The lugs Il are made With internal screw threads engaged by threaded portions of the shafts I3, I4 for the purpose of adjusting the frame transversely on the stand in response to rotation of the shafts l3, M. A suitable hand wheel I9 is shown seated on the end of one of these shafts for convenient rotation thereof.

Brackets 2|), 2| rise from the, frame ID to maintain a light rod 22 suspended therebetween, and

one end of this rod is shown threaded to receive a wing nut 23, adapted to maintain the rod tight- 1y stretched between the brackets. The portion of this rod which lies between the idlers 5, 6 ex-. tend parallel with the upper reach of the belt 4, the top of the belt and the top of the rod being in the same horizontal plane. The bracket 20 is shown extended above the rod 22 to support a hopper 25, having on one side a spout 26 discharging into a chute 21 of the stand l. Screws of uniform thread diameter but of various lengths are placed in this hopper to slide by gravity along the spout and chute on to thetop surfaces of the rod and belt, and it is important to note that the discharge end of the chute should be of a Width to pass only one screw at a time. As each screw iands on top of the belt and rod, its shank is free to swing downward into the space between these parts to leave the screw suspended therefrcm by its head, and to be slOwly advanced by the continuously moving belt.

Two operators are stationed along the machine to examine the screws as they advance, the funetion of the operator nearer the chute being to inspect the screw heads to determine whether or not the heads are perfect and to pick out any screws having an imperfect head and to deposit it in a Waste container 30. It is alsothe duty of the operator to see that the screws scat properly between the belt and rod. If more than one screw lands on the top surface at the same time,.those not seating properly will roll over the edge of the belt or rod, to drop along a chute 3l into a receptacle 32, later to be redeposited in the hopper 25. Or the operator may pick them up and throw them back into the hopper.

The duty of the second operator is to examine the length of the screw shanks as the screws slowly advance. They are mostly of uniform length. but accidentally quite a few of other lengths have been mixed in with them during previcus Operations, and the purpose of the device is to facilitate removal of all screws of incorrect length. As the screws slowly advance it is not diflcult to detect whether the screws are longer or shorter than the specified length, and to pick them up manually. They may then be thrown into suitable receptacles .33, 34 for transfer to their proper storage bins or shipping receptacles. It should be clear to all versed in the art that the frame ID is movable transversely on the stand to adjust the space between the belt and rod to the diameter of screw to be inspected.

One difficulty arises, however, namely that while the operators hands are busiiy engaged above the belt and rod to pick up irnperiect or incorrect screws, they coVer the inspection zone to such an extent that it is difficult to examine the passing screws. I have solved this problem by placing a mirror in front of each operator, on the side of the rod and belt opposite the operator. Ihis enables the operator to examine the advancing screws through the opposed mirror while the hands are continuously occupied above the belt and rod. 7

I have found it preferable to place the operators on opposite sides of the machine, because in this way they both have freedom of movement over the entire length thereof. The mirrors,4, 4l are mounted to swing on standards 42, 43 of the base so that the angular position of each mirror may be adjusted to suit the height of the operatrs eyes. on opposite sides, facing in opposite directions, so as to serve the operators.

As bes t shown in Fig, 2, the rod 22 may be supported intermediate its ends by light so-mewhat flexible posts 45, and a more rigid post 41, nearer the bracket 2 1, supports the rod both vertical1y and horizontally. It is also noticed that the rod, beyond the post 42, diverges slightly from the belt 4 horizontaily in order to permit the screws which have passed inspection to drop between the gradualiy spreading belt and rod along a chute 49 into a suitable receptac]e 48.

Standards 5], 5! rise from the stand l to support asuitable Iight fixture 52 at the proper height strongly to illumine the mirrors, and far enough above thepassing screws not to interfere with theoperators hands.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the operators have ample time to inspect the articIes, be they screws, bolts or rivets, as they slowly are carried past their stations, and that the mirrors may be anguiarly adjusted to the most convenient position for proper inspection. It should now be clear how essential to proper operation of the device the mirrors are. With out them, the hands of the operators would cover the inspection zone and so render careful inspection virtually impossible.

The drawings are mereiy illustrative of my invention, and are not intended to indicate limitation cf inspection capacity. If tWo operators are not found sufficient for proper inspection it is, of course, merely a matter of providing additional inspectors, as the device may be made of any required length and the number of mirrors increased te suit. 7 Nor has any attention been paid to proper proportioning of the various features a of the invention or to the correct location thereof, it being within the purview of the engineer versed in the art to mold the features illustrated into a correctly proportioned device.

I claim: a

1. A device for assorting screws and the ]ike as to Iength comprising, a stationary rod, a belt mounted for continuons movement on'the device, said belt having its top surface parallel and coplanar with the top surface of the rod, means maintaining said rod tightly stretched, there being a space between the belt and rod wide enough to pass the shanks cf screws placed thereon, a post for supporting the rod nearer the far end thereof without obstructing the space between the belt and rod from which point the rod commences. t0 diverge Iaterally from the belt, and means for feeding screws to the top surfaces of the belt and rod. u 2. A device for assorting,screws and the Iike And they are also mounted as to length comprising, a stationary support, a continuously moving support parallel and coplanar therewith, there being a space between said supports of a width to receive the shanks of screws placed thereon and carried along by the moving support, gravity causing the shanks of the screws to swing into the space between the supports, and mirrors arranged along the side of the supports facing in opposite directions in staggered succession to facilitate inspection et the screws advancing past the mirrors by operators placed opposite said mirrbrs while affording unobstructed space in front of the operators for manual removal of screws of incorrect length.

3. A device for assorting screws and the like as to length, said device comprising, a stationary support, a continuousiy moving support parailel and coplanar therewith, there being a space between said supports of a width to receive the shanks of screws placed thereon and carried along by the moving support, gravity causing the shanks of the screws to swing into the space between the supports, there being inspection stations en opposite sides of the device, a mirror on the de vice facing each station and mounted on the opposite side of the supports relative to the station it is facing, through which the operator may inspect the shank of each advancing screw while stil1 retaining unobstructed space for manual removal of screws of incorrect length, illuminating means above said supports for throwing a beam of iight through the mirrors and across the path of the screw shanks to the operators eyes, and means for adjusting the angular position of each mirror te suit the elevation of the eyes of the operator.

4. In a device for assorting screws and the like as to length, a stationary rod, a belt mounted for continuous movement, said belt having its upper surface parailel and coplanar with the top surface of the rod, means for feeding screws to the top surface of the belt and rod, there being a space between said two members wide enough to pass the shanks of the screws placed thereon and advanced therealong by the moving belt, a post for supporting the rod nearer the far end thereof without blocking the space between the belt and rod, the latter commencing t0 diverse laterally from the belt as it leaves said post thereby to provide space for passing the heads of the advancing screws, means at one end of the rod for adjustabiy maintaining the rod tightly stretched, a receptacle below the spreading portion of the belt and rod, and means forguiding the passing screws to said receptacle. 7

5. In a device for assorting screws and the like, a stationary rod, a belt mountd fer continuons movement, said belt having its top surface parallel and coplanar with the top surface of the rod, means for feeding screws to the top surface of the belt and rod to be advanced therealong by the moving belt, there being a space between the belt and rod wide enough to pass the shanks of:the screws placed thereon, a.post for support ing the rod nearer the far end thereof without blocking the space between the belt and rod, the latter commencing to diverge lateral1y from the belt as it leaves said post so as to provide space fo passing the heads of the advancing screws,

a post supporting the near end of the rod, and

mean engaging said last named post and the rod for adjustably maintaining the rod tightIy stretched. r

6. In a device for assorting screws and the like as to length comprising, supporting means maintaining screws suspended by their heads and slowly to advance said screws along the devce for inspection by operators stationed at predetermined points along both sides of the device, said .means comprising a continuous1y moving be1t having a horizontally extending upper reach and a staticnary rod parallel and coplanar therewith in laterally spaced relation thereto, means for adjusting the Width of the space between the belt and rod to suit the diameter of the screws to be assorted, means maintaining said rod tight- 1y stretched, a mirror facing each operators station, each of said mirrors being mounted on the far side of the screw supporting means relative to the station it is facing, through which the operator may inspect the shank of each advancing screw while sti1l retaining unobstructed space for manual removal of screws of incorrect length, receptacles for screws manually removed by the operators, and means for adjusting each of said mirrors angularly t0 suit the elevation of the operators eyes.

7. A device for assorting screws comp-rising, a stand, an endless be1t mounted for continuons horizontal movement along said stand, a frame on the stand, brackets rising from said frame, a rod supported on said brackets and having its top surface parallel and coplanar with the top surface of the belt, means for feeding screws to the top surface of the belt and rod to be carried therealong by the moving belt for inspection by operators stationed at predetermined points along both sides of the stand, means for adjusting said frame transversely on the stand so as to provide a space between the be1t and rod of a Width to receive the shanks of the screws to be assorted, a support on the stand opposite the station cf each operator, a mirror on each support in which the operator frein the opposite side of the stand may view the refiection of each passing screw shank, the space in front of the operator being unobstructed in order to afford room for manual removal of screws of incorrect length, means for adjusting each of said mirrors angularly te suit the elevation of the operators eyes, and lights mounted on the stand above the be1t and rod to illumine said mirrors.

MOSES SHUMAN. 

